From Porto Alegre to Recife, Brazil’s women carry on with their Argentina double-header on Tuesday, but the squad will have a different figure available for the meeting at Arena de Pernambuco. Kerolin, held out of the 3-1 win at Beira-Rio, has completed her suspension and is expected to return to the starting side at 20:30 Brasília time.
For the forward, it is a return to international duty after a period in which her club circumstances have changed dramatically. Since her previous appearance for Brazil against the United States, Kerolin has swapped Manchester for Barcelona, taken on the No. 10 shirt again and become the benchmark in three transfer records: Brazil’s most expensive female player, Barcelona’s costliest signing and Manchester City’s biggest sale.
Her ban stemmed from the second of Brazil’s June friendlies against the United States, a 1-0 Brazilian victory that ended amid a wider confrontation between the teams. Kerolin was dismissed, as were defender Tarciane, forward Bia Zaneratto and coach Arthur Elias. All served their punishments in the first Argentina fixture. Ludmilla was also sent off against the Americans but was not selected for this camp.
Barcelona’s new No. 10 returns to Brazil
When Brazil last faced the United States, Kerolin started both matches in the No. 11 jersey because Marta was in the group and retained her familiar No. 10. At that stage, Kerolin was still a Manchester City player, having spent two seasons in England and becoming the first Brazil international to win the English league.
A month later, Barcelona paid €1.2 million, around R$7 million, for the attacker on a four-year contract. The fee eclipsed the previous Brazilian record held by Amanda Gutierres, whose October 2025 move from Palmeiras to Boston Legacy was worth $1.1 million, approximately R$5.89 million at the time.
Kerolin has made eight Barcelona appearances so far, starting six times and scoring once. Her move to Catalonia has therefore placed a new club chapter alongside an expanding role with the national side.
The No. 10 has become increasingly associated with her in 2026. Kerolin wore it in two of Brazil’s three FIFA windows before this Argentina series, missing out only for the United States games. In recent squads without both Marta and Kerolin, Duda Sampaio wore the number against England and Italy in October 2025, while Gabi Zanotti had it for November matches against Norway and Portugal.
Kerolin’s first outing in the shirt came in February away to Costa Rica, when she scored in a 5-2 victory. Jheniffer struck twice, with Tainá Maranhão and Adriana also on the scoresheet. She then retained the number for friendlies against Venezuela and Mexico during the same window.
In April, at the FIFA Series in Cuiabá, she wore No. 10 as Brazil won all three matches against South Korea, Zambia and Canada. Kerolin supplied two goals and two assists across the tournament and was named its best player.
Reflecting after that competition, she said that dedication had been central to her progress since the youth teams, adding that she had learned through errors as well as praise. “Every process comes to make us stronger,” she said, describing herself as grateful for what has happened in her career.
A familiar place in an evolving squad
Kerolin first played for Brazil in October 2018, when Vadão was coach. Since Arthur Elias took charge in September 2023, she has been selected on 12 occasions, played 61 matches and scored 15 goals. Her international honours include Copa América titles in 2022 and 2025.
Tuesday’s match in Recife offers the Barcelona forward a chance to resume that run after watching Brazil’s opening win over Argentina from the sidelines. Later in 2026, Brazil will travel to Japan for friendlies in Hiroshima on 29 November and Okayama on 5 December.
